Restorative

Fillings

The term "restorative" is a generalization for many options to “restore” teeth. White or bonded fillings have replaced the older, silver amalgam fillings. While we still do use amalgam for some situations, the majority of fillings now are completed with the resin bonded material. Some insurances however only cover posterior (back) teeth at the amalgam price. For this reason, we always advise the patient to check with their insurance company prior to their appointment date to determine coverage. If the patient desires the resin bonded filling, then they would be responsible for the remaining balance.

Crowns

A crown is a type of “restoration” that covers the entire surface of an existing tooth. A crown may be necessary for a number of reasons which could include, fractures, large decayed areas, previous root canal treatment, large cracked fillings, or bruxism (grinding). A crowned tooth still has to be cared for in the same fashion as a normal tooth, with daily brushing and flossing. The crowned tooth is still susceptible to getting decay around its edges if it is not cared for properly. We offer crowns in either all-porcelain, porcelain fused to a metal base, or gold. The type of material that is chosen will depend upon the location in the mouth and status of the tooth.

Bridges

A bridge is a great option for many patients to replace teeth they may have lost in the past. It is important to replace these missing teeth in order to stabilize a patient’s bite, or improve one’s esthetics if a space is visible when they smile. When we fabricate a bridge, the patient needs to have existing teeth on both sides of an empty space. These neighboring teeth are then prepared for crowns, and these crowns hold a replacement crown in the missing space. This type of restoration is permanently cemented in the patient’s mouth, and is cleaned as a normal functioning tooth.

Implants

A second option of replacing teeth involves implants. Dental implants are becoming increasingly common and popular in today’s dental treatments. If the patient has a missing tooth/teeth, and does not want to alter the neighboring teeth, then dental implants would be a great option. An implant is surgically placed into the jawbone, and left to heal for 3-6 months. In this healing time, the bone is able to fuse around the implant, creating a solid anchoring structure. The implant surgery is a very easy surgery to undergo, with limited post-operative discomfort. A crown abutment is then screwed onto the implant after healing has occurred. This abutment is where a crown is cemented upon treatment completion.